A long-awaited revival has come to fruition in South Oak Cliff as the Cedar Crest Community Center has flung open its doors after extensive renovations. The rejuvenation of the 50-year-old facility, which stands on a 7.9-acre property, was unveiled on January 11, at a ceremony with local dignitaries including Darrion Lewis Sr. of Behind Every Door and Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Carolyn King Arnold in attendance. An energetic display by the Roosevelt High School Marching Band marked the occasion, according to the City of Dallas.

The surrounding community, which largely consists of low-income residents, now has access to a state-of-the-art community center featuring a fitness room, sports fields, and health clinics. It's estimated to serve over 3,000 individuals. Funding for the project was sourced from the New Markets Tax Credit program and the Dallas Development Fund, restoring a vital local resource in the neighborhood situated at 1007 Hutchins Road.

In the northern part of the city, the Dallas International District has been on a transformative journey since 2012. Once known as the Valley View-Galleria area, it now houses a wide range of international restaurants and a melting pot of residents, officially marked as Texas' first international district. This effort made possible through the collaboration of the City of Dallas, private developers, the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce, and community stakeholders, aims to honor the diverse cultural backdrop of Dallas’s residents who have roots around the globe.

Meanwhile, the Dallas Development Fund is drawing attention to leveraging the New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC), a tool designed to propel development in disadvantaged neighborhoods. DDF was awarded $55 million in the latest 2021 allocation cycle and has used this tool to close $185 million in allocations so far. The targeted projects bring strong community impacts located in highly distressed Census tracts.